Public Health Commons^™

Timing Of Fetal Exposure To Stress Hormones: Effects On Newborn Physical And Neuromuscular Maturation, Lauren M. Ellman, Christine Dunkel Schetter, Calvin J. Hobel, Aleksandra Chicz-Demet, Laura M. Glynn, Curt A. Sandman

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The purpose of the study was to determine the specific periods during pregnancy in which human fetal exposure to stress hormones affects newborn physical and neuromuscular maturation. Blood was collected from 158 women at 15, 19, 25, and 31 weeks' gestation. Levels of placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and maternal cortisol were determined from plasma. Newborns were evaluated with the New Ballard Maturation Score. Results indicated that increases in maternal cortisol at 15, 19, and 25 weeks and increases in placental CRH at 31 weeks were significantly associated with decreases in infant maturation among mates (even after con trolling for length …

Familialism, Social Support, And Stress: Positive Implications For Pregnant Latinas, Belinda Campos, Christine Dunkel Schetter, Cleopatra M. Abdou, Calvin J. Hobel, Laura M. Glynn, Curt A. Sandman

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

This study examined the association of familialism, a cultural value that emphasizes close family relationships, with social Support, stress, pregnancy anxiety, and infant birth weight. Foreign-born Latina (n = 31), U.S.-born Latina (n = 68), and European American (n = 166) women living in the United States participated in a prospective study of pregnancy in which they completed measures of familialism, social support, stress, and pregnancy anxiety during their second trimester. As expected, Latinas scored higher on familialism than European Americans. Familialism was positively correlated with social support and negatively correlated with stress and pregnancy anxiety in the overall sample. …

Stress And Blood Pressure During Pregnancy: Racial Differences And Associations With Birthweight, Clayton J. Hilmert, Christine Dunkel Schetter, Tyan Parker Dominguez, Cleopatra M. Abdou, Calvin J. Hobel, Laura M. Glynn, Curt A. Sandman

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

OBJECTIVE: To extend findings that African American women report greater stress during pregnancy, have higher blood pressure (BP), and are twice as likely to have low birthweight infants relative to white women. This study examines a) racial differences in associations between stress and BP during pregnancy, and b) the combined effects of stress and BP on infant birthweight in a sample of 170 African American and white women.

METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal study of pregnant women was conducted in which measures of BP, stress, and other relevant variables were collected. Multiple measures of systolic and diastolic BP were taken at …

Differential Dynamic Properties Of Scleroderma Fibroblasts In Response To Perturbation Of Environmental Stimuli, Momiao Xiong, Frank C. Arnett, Xinjian Guo, Hao Xiong, Xiaodong Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Diseases are believed to arise from dysregulation of biological systems (pathways) perturbed by environmental triggers. Biological systems as a whole are not just the sum of their components, rather ever-changing, complex and dynamic systems over time in response to internal and external perturbation. In the past, biologists have mainly focused on studying either functions of isolated genes or steady-states of small biological pathways. However, it is systems dynamics that play an essential role in giving rise to cellular function/dysfunction which cause diseases, such as growth, differentiation, division and apoptosis. Biological phenomena of the entire organism are not only determined by …

Evaluation Of Pre And Post Treatment Filtration Performance Of Kinetico Macrolite® Ceramic Media Compared To Traditional Sand/Anthracite And Gac Filters In Drinking Water Treatment Process, Jeff Cochran

All ETDs from UAB

This study was conducted in conjunction with the Birmingham Water Works Board to evaluate Kinetico ceramic filter media against GAC (Granular Activated Carbon) and Sand/Anthracite filters. The Birmingham Water Works Board Water Treatment Pilot Plant was located and operated on the Shades Mountain Filter Plant (SMFP) premises. The evaluation was conducted in three phases: plant matching, plant optimization, and pre-filter testing. The initial phase called for determining the best combination of Kinetico Macrolite Ceramic media to match or outperform the existing Sand/Anthracite dual media filters located at SMFP. At the end of the testing it was determined that 18 inches …

The Relationship Of Medical Homeness To The Quality Of Life Of Mothers Of Children With And Without Special Health Care Needs, Cynthia G. Cortes

All ETDs from UAB

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the relationship of child, family, and medical home status to quality of life for mothers of children with and without special health care needs. Mothers of children with (n=100) and without (n=80) special health care needs, completed a questionnaire at a children’s hospital in the southeastern United States focusing on the child, family, and medical home and maternal quality of life. Standardized instruments were used to measure quality of life (SF-36) and social support (Social Support Questionnaire). Non-standardized instruments used in other research were incorporated into the maternal questionnaire. Logistic and linear regression …

Interim Monitoring Efficacy, Safety And Futility In Phase Iii Clinical Trials, Qing Li

All ETDs from UAB

Phase III trials often have both efficacy and safety outcomes. Sometimes the safety outcomes are closely associated with the efficacy outcomes. We sought to find a statistical method to treat both efficacy and safety outcomes as bivariate primary outcomes and set up stopping rules at interim stages based on the following criteria: (1) greater safety; (2) greater efficacy; (3) futility. We first examined the internal pilot design to adjust sample size for clinical trials with a bivariate response (efficacy and safety). Three nuisance parameters (two variances and correlation) need to be considered when doing sample size recalculation for the internal …

Air Pollution And Preterm Births In Atlanta, Georgia, Corey Masuca

All ETDs from UAB

Exposure to ambient outdoor air pollution exposure is one of the many extraneous factors associated with preterm births. Many epidemiological studies involving preterm births and ambient air pollution have repeatedly indicated positive associations. However, for many such studies, results may be statistically significant but weakly associated or inconclusive. Such results may be primarily attributable to the fact that most studies include only single or multiple criteria air pollutants but not the total air pollution mixture of criteria air pollutants and air toxic pollutants (e.g., PAHs) to which people are actually exposed. This study assessed associations between pollutant classes, including criteria …

Randomized Controlled Trial Of Low Cost Interventions To Reduce Childhood Immunization Dropouts In Pakistan, Hussain Raza Usman

All ETDs from UAB

Childhood immunization coverage in Pakistan remains sub-optimal despite universal and free of cost availability of vaccines. Structural impediments to progress may include the immunization card that is hard to read and interpret. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of redesigned immunization card and center-based education to mothers on immunization completion at rural immunization centers in Karachi, Pakistan. Other objectives were to identify the predictors of immunization completion and to identify factors associated with delay at first dose of diphtheria-tetanuspertussis (DTP1). Mother-child units were enrolled from six immunization centers at DTP1 and randomized to four study groups: …

The Effect Of Malaria And Intestinal Helminth Coinfection On Birth Outcomes In Ghana, Nelly J. Yatich

All ETDs from UAB

Several studies have reported the relationship between malaria during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes including maternal anemia, low birthweight, as well as preterm delivery and small for gestational age infants. Some studies have also demonstrated the linkage between helminth infection and maternal anemia. Few studies have assessed the occurrence of coinfection of these infections in pregnancy and its effects on maternal anemia and birth outcomes. The objective of this dissertation was to assess the effect of malaria and intestinal helminth coinfection on birth outcomes in Ghana. A cross-sectional study of 785 women presenting for delivery in two hospitals in Kumasi, …

Wavelet-Based Regression And Classification For Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Data, William R. Prucka

All ETDs from UAB

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique capable of in vivo characterization of the spatial and angular dependence of free water diffusion in tissue. By studying intra- and extra-cellular water mobility, inference can be made about the surrounding medium. The non-uniform angular dependence of diffusion, known as anisotropy, is evident in fibrous tissues, which exhibit greater diffusion parallel versus perpendicular to the fiber orientation. DTI’s sensitivity to anisotropy makes it an effective tool for measuring the integrity of fibrous myelinated white matter tracts in the brain. For demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), DTI has …

Integration Of Analysis And Deliberation To Evaluate Biodiesel Occupational And Environmental Exposures, Nora M. Traviss

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Many U.S. organizations interested in a renewable and domestic source of energy are considering switching from petroleum diesel to biodiesel blends for transportation and heavy-duty equipment use. Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils or waste grease. While there is a considerable body of evidence on the negative health effects of petroleum diesel exhaust exposures in occupational and urban settings, there has been little research examining the impact of biodiesel fuel on occupational and environmental exposures. This dissertation combined a collaborative exposure assessment of B20 (20% soy-based biodiesel/80% diesel) at a rural recycling center with a policy intervention to …

A Review Of The Evaluation Of Healthway Sponsorships, Michael Rosenberg, Christina Mills, Joanna Granich, Renee Ferguson, Sarah French, Lisa Wood

Research outputs pre 2011

This study reviewed the methods used by Healthway to assess sponsorship implementation/value and to explore complimentary or alternative evaluation measures...

Interview questions related to sponsorship activities, procedures, requirements and evaluation. Suggestions for practical and alternative ways of assessing sponsorship implementation and conducting evaluations were also asked. In addition, the perceived value of sponsorship investments to Healthway and satisfaction with the existing evaluation framework were also sought...

Organisational Survey: Impact Of Healthway Funding On Currently Funded And Previously Funded Sar Organisations, Michael Rosenberg, Sarah French, Jenna Mitchell, Christina Mills, Lisa Wood

Research outputs pre 2011

Since 1992, organisations in receipt of Healthway funding have demonstrated consistently high levels of commitment to sponsorship requirements. In part, the high levels of commitment observed may reflect a trend towards organisations with similar values to Healthway applying for funding. Organisations with different values to Healthway may receive funding once and decide that the sponsorship does riot match the needs of their organisation. This may result in difficulties fo.r Healthway to access hard to reach organisations, or to establish longer-term partnerships with Sports, Arts or Racing (SAR) organisations that target high priority groups. To better understand how Healthway's requirements of …

Participation In Sports, Arts And Racing And Its Relationship To Message Literacy And Health Behaviours, Christina Mills, Michael Rosenberg, Sarah French, Jenna Mitchell, Lisa Wood

Research outputs pre 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess health message awareness and health behaviours by participation/non participation in sport, arts and racing (SAR) in Western Australia. In this study a 'participant' was defined as someone who was (1) a member of a SAR organisation, group or club; and/or (2) having attended a SAR event as a spectator or audience member in the last 12 months. A 'non participant' was someone who did not participate in any SAR events as a member and/or spectator and/or audience member in the last 12 months.

Review Of The Social And Emotional Wellbeing Of Indigenous Australian Peoples, Darren Garvey

Research outputs pre 2011

The first case of diabetes among Indigenous people was recorded in Adelaide in 1923. Records prior to this time showed that Indigenous people were fit, lean, and did not suffer from any form of metabolic condition, which were largely believed to be a characteristic of European populations. The earliest detailed studies investigating the development of diabetes in Indigenous populations were not undertaken, however, until the early 1960s. These and subsequent studies found a significant correlation between the development of a ‘westernised’ lifestyle and the levels of type 2 diabetes in the Indigenous population.

Since that time, type 2 diabetes has …

Promoting Healthy Weight In The Preschool Years: A Portfolio And Planning Guide To Address Barriers In Primary Care, Margaret Miller, Renee Campbell-Pope, Lydia Hearn

Research outputs pre 2011

The rapidly rising incidence of overweight and obesity in Australia, particularly among young children has led to an urgent need for effective prevention. Recent figures indicate that 15% of preschool children in Australia are overweight, and a further 6% are obese1,2, with rates rising steadily especially among children from lower socioeconomic groups.

Family, childcare, primary health care, early childhood education and the community are influential environments for young children3-7 with the potential to engage in an integrated approach to promote healthy weight and development of healthy eating and active lifestyle habits during the pre-school years5,8,9.

In 2006, the Child Health …

Assessing The Professional Development Needs Of Public Health Educators In Light Of Changing Competencies, A. R. Demers, Edward M. Mamary

Faculty Publications

Introduction Because of the need for a well-trained public health workforce, professional competencies have been recently revised by the Institute of Medicine and the National Health Educator Competencies Update Project. This study compared the self-identified training needs of public health educators with the updated competencies and assessed employer support for continuing education. Methods A convenience sample of public health educators was recruited from an e-mail list of San Jose State University master of public health alumni. Respondents completed a Web-based survey that elicited information on emerging trends in public health education, training needs, and employer support for continuing education. Results …

State Policies Matter: The Case Of Outpatient Drug Treatment Program Practices, Jamie Chriqui, Yvonne Terry-Mcelrath, Duane C. Mcbride, D Eidson

Faculty Publications

This study examined relationships between state policy requirements governing outpatient substance abuse treatment services and reported outpatient treatment program practices. State policies effective as of February 1, 2003, and February 1, 2004, were collected and analyzed via primary legal research; data were validated by state officials (88% response rate; > 90% validation rate). Treatment practice data were obtained from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services for the years 2003 and 2004. Multivariate analyses clustered by state were conducted, controlling for state, program, and state-aggregated client admission characteristics. Results indicated that treatment programs located in states with requirements for comprehensive …

Tms : L'Influence Des Représentations De La Maladie, De La Douleur Et De La Guérison Sur Le Processus De Réadaptation Au Travail, Raymond Baril, Marie-José Durand, Marie-France Coutu, Daniel Côté, Geneviève Cadieux, Annick Rouleau, Suzy Ngomo

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Problématique de santé et sécurité du travail et objectifs spécifiques :

Les troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) affectent une grande proportion des travailleurs du Québec et engendrent des coûts humains, sociaux et financiers très importants. Ces troubles laissent des séquelles persistantes chez une proportion non négligeable de travailleurs. Afin d’effectuer un retour au travail sain et sécuritaire, ceux-ci doivent souvent avoir recours à un processus de réadaptation. Le processus de réactivation et de retour au travail n’est pas nécessairement linéaire. Les travailleurs passent plutôt par des phases caractérisées par une évolution physique, psychologique …

Étude Ergonomique D'Un Nouveau Traitement Sylvicole, Daniel Imbeau, Denise Dubeau, Bruno Farbos

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Cette étude a comparé deux traitements sylvicoles, soit le débroussaillage conventionnel et le débroussaillage combiné au badigeonnage, avec le produit Myco-Tech^MC, des tiges coupées. En tout 10 débroussailleurs ayant entre 1 et 4 saisons d'expérience et formés à l'application du produit Myco-Tech^MC ont participé à cette étude. Un Step-Test a été administré à chaque sujet afin de permettre l'estimation de sa capacité cardiorespiratoire ainsi que du métabolisme de travail à partir de la fréquence cardiaque durant le travail. La fréquence cardiaque a été mesurée en continu durant le travail. Les extrapulsations cardiaques thermiques (EPCT) ont été estimées …

Évaluation Analytique De La Dispersion Des Émissions De Cheminées De Toit Sur Les Bâtiments, Ted Stathopoulos, Hajra Bodhisatta, Ali Bahloul

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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« Dispersion » permet de décrire la façon dont les effluents des cheminées ou d’autres émissions des bâtiments sont transportés et dilués par le vent soufflé à travers un regroupement de bâtiments ou ses environs immédiats. La pollution atmosphérique est extrême lorsque l’air présente un niveau de pollution excessif pendant plusieurs heures ou plusieurs jours, et il peut en résulter un grand inconfort, des maladies et même des décès chez les personnes les plus vulnérables. Il y a forte probabilité de pollution extrême en présence d’inversions thermiques persistantes et de vents …

Réduction De La Distance De Garde En Tête Des Excavations Étançonnées Par Un Tuyau En Tôle D’Acier Ondulé Galvanisé (Ttaog), André Lan, Renaud Daigle, Denis Leboeuf, Omar Chaallal

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Contexte et problématique

Cette étude fait suite à une demande conjointe formulée à l’Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), par l’Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail, secteur des affaires municipales (APSAM) et la Ville de Saguenay, sur la sécurité de réduire la distance de garde en tête des excavations utilisant des tuyaux de tôle en acier ondulé et galvanisé (TTAOG) comme structure d’étançonnement temporaire, lors des travaux d’entretien et de réparation des réseaux souterrains d’aqueduc et d’égout, en milieu urbain. L’utilisation de divers systèmes d’étançonnement, dont le TTAOG, lors de …

Mise Au Point Et Validation D’Un Outil De Calcul Du Temps De Service Des Cartouches Filtrantes Pour Vapeurs Organiques, Daniel Cossement, Iheb Bellasfar, Patrick-Daniel Dubois, Tapan K. Bose, Jaime Lara, Daniel Drolet, François Lemay, Zélie Fortin

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le but de cette activité étalée sur une période de 12 mois, était de fournir un logiciel disponible sur le site Web de l’IRSST permettant de calculer le temps de service de six cartouches filtrantes pour les vapeurs organiques pour des solvants réglementés au Québec. La mise au point de ce logiciel est le fruit d’une coopération entre l’IRSST, avec son expertise dans la caractérisation de la durée de vie des cartouches chimiques, et l’Institut de recherche sur l’hydrogène (IRH) via son expertise sur les charbons activés.

Le modèle de base pour estimer la durée de vie des cartouches est …

Évaluation De La Coordination Des Muscles Dorso-Lombaires Chez Des Gens Présentant Une Lombalgie : Une Base De Données Revisitée, Christian Larivière, David Mcfadden, A. Bertrand Arsenault, Thierry Petitjean-Roget

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Problématique de santé et sécurité du travail et objectifs spécifiques : Le développement d’outils quantitatifs d’évaluation des déficiences ou des incapacités qui résultent de ces déficiences représente un des axes de recherche définis dans le champ réadaptation de l’IRSST. La littérature actuelle démontre que les gens présentant une lombalgie chronique ont une coordination musculaire altérée, ce qui représente un marqueur intéressant pour des fins d’évaluation lors d’un programme de réadaptation. C’est qu’une coordination musculaire qui revient à la normale pourrait indiquer que les structures lésées ont été réparées. Cependant, l’étude de la coordination musculaire n’est pas facile à quantifier chez …

Réduction De La Distance De Garde En Tête Des Excavations Étançonnées Par Un Tuyau En Tôle D’Acier Ondulé Galvanisé (Ttaog) : Annexes, André Lan, Renaud Daigle, Denis Leboeuf, Omar Chaallal

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Ce document contient les annexes du rapport R-582, disponible à https://pharesst.irsst.qc.ca/rapports-scientifique/517/

Contexte et problématique

Cette étude fait suite à une demande conjointe formulée à l’Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), par l’Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail, secteur des affaires municipales (APSAM) et la Ville de Saguenay, sur la sécurité de réduire la distance de garde en tête des excavations utilisant des tuyaux de tôle en acier ondulé et galvanisé (TTAOG) comme structure d’étançonnement temporaire, lors des travaux d’entretien et de réparation des réseaux souterrains d’aqueduc et d’égout, en milieu …

Validation D’Un Outil D’Autodiagnostic Et D’Un Modèle De Progression De La Mesure En Santé Et Sécurité Du Travail, Mario Roy, Jean Cadieux, Lucie Fortier, Louise Leclerc

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Ce rapport de recherche vise essentiellement à rendre compte de la démarche qui a été réalisée pour la validation d’un outil d’autodiagnostic de l’état de la SST destiné aux établissements de production et de fabrication dans le contexte québécois. La démarche a nécessité (1) la révision d’une version préliminaire du questionnaire, (2) la réalisation d’un test auprès de trois entreprises du secteur de l’imprimerie, (3) des ajustements pour la production d'un questionnaire de deuxième génération, (4) l'utilisation d’une procédure Delphi auprès de cinq experts académiques du domaine, (5) la production d'un questionnaire de troisième génération, (6) et la validation finale …

Sécurité Des Chariots Élévateurs : Étude De L’Efficacité De La Ceinture De Sécurité, Pierre-Étienne Bourret, Stéphane Martel, Marina Koutchouk, Marc-André Roux, Michel Gou, Carl-Éric Aubin, Denis Rancourt

Rapports de recherche scientifique

C’est au début des années 90 que la CSST a fait une première demande à l’IRSST pour étudier l’efficacité du port des ceintures de sécurité pour la conduite de chariots élévateurs. En 1998, René Benoît et Josée Duquette (Duquette et Benoît, 1998) déposaient un bilan exhaustif sur l’ensemble des dispositifs de sécurité utilisés sur les chariots élévateurs. Dans ce bilan, on reprochait principalement la non-représentativité des résultats de certaines études. De plus, Duquette et Benoît (Duquette et Benoît, 1998) ont noté, à plusieurs reprises, le caractère contradictoire entre les études effectuées sur les mêmes dispositifs de sécurité. Ces conclusions ont …

Les Effets Sur La Santé Reliés Aux Nanoparticules, Claude Ostiguy, Brigitte Soucy, Gilles Lapointe, Catherine Woods, Luc Ménard, Mylène Trottier

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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La recherche dans le domaine des nanoparticules (NP) et de la nanotechnologie croît à un rythme stupéfiant. La raison en est fort simple : les propriétés uniques des NP devraient permettre le développement de produits aux caractéristiques inédites et une pléthore d’applications dans tous les champs de l’activité humaine, générant de ce fait des retombées économiques considérables.

On prévoit que le nombre de travailleurs québécois exposés aux NP, tant par leur utilisation et leur transformation que par leur production, s’accentuera au cours des prochaines années. D’ailleurs, plusieurs produits sont déjà commercialisés …

Le Syndrome D’Irritation Bronchique : De La Surveillance Épidémiologique Aux Mécanismes, Jean-Luc Malo, Denyse Gautrin, Karim Maghni, James Martin

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le syndrome d’irritation bronchique (SIrB) est un type d’asthme professionnel où le travailleur exposé à un irritant non spécifique, généré à une forte concentration, développe une symptomatologie respiratoire asthmatique avec un risque d’atteinte fonctionnelle permanente. La plupart du temps, les travailleurs présentent des symptômes sans consulter au service de premiers soins ni faire de demandes d’indemnisation.

L’étude proposée comporte un volet épidémiologique qui fait le pont avec un volet portant sur les mécanismes, ce dernier étant exploré dans un modèle animal.

Dans le cadre du volet épidémiologique, notre objectif était d’identifier 1) les facteurs de risque – incluant le calibre …